Portable toilet and sink structures and the like

ABSTRACT

A PORTABLE TOILET STRUCTURE OR THE LIKE WHICH INCLUDES A PLURALITY OF SIDE PANELS CONNECTED TOGETHER ALONG THEIR RESPECTIVE ADJACENT EDGES. CONNECTED TO THE SIDE PANELS IS A TOP PANEL HAVING A THROUGH APERTURE. SURROUNDING THE APERTURE AND EXTENDING DOWNWARDLY THEREFROM IS A SUBSTANTIALLY WATERPROOF BAG. THE BAG IS ADAPTED TO RECEIVE WASTE MATERIALS AND THE LIKE THEREBY TO PROVIDE A PORTABLE TOILET OR THE LIKE WHICH MAY BE ASSEMBLED EASILY AND QUICKLY. A METHOD OF FABRICATING THE PORTABLE STRUCTURE ALSO IS DESCRIBED.

May 25, 1971 SUNDBERG 3579,65

PORTABLE TOILET AND SINK STRUCTURES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 13, 1968 2Sheets-Sheet 1 mvzsmox. Alan F. Sund-berg AT T O RNEY U 25, 1971 A. F.SUNDBERG 3,579,555

* PORTABLE TOILET AND SINK STRUCTURES AND THE LIKE Filed Aug. 13, 1968 2Sheets-Shea?- I FIG.6

FIG.8

United States Patent 3,57,655 PORTABLE TOILET AND SINK STRUCTURES ANDTHE LIKE Alan F. Sundberg, Amityville, N.Y. (256 W. 21st St., New York,N.Y. 10011) Filed Aug. 13, 1968, Ser. No. 752,308 Int. Cl. A47k 11/02U.S. Cl. 4-116 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A portable toiletstructure or the like which includes a plurality of side panelsconnected together along their respective adjacent edges. Connected tothe side panels is a top panel having a through aperture. Surroundingthe aperture and extending downwardly therefrom is a substantiallywaterproof bag. The bag is adapted to receive waste materials and thelike thereby to provide a portable toilet or the like which may beassembled easily and quickly.

A method of fabricating the portable structure also is described.

This invention relates generally to portable structures which may beused as toilets or the like and a method of fabricating the same and,more particularly, pertains to portable structures of the aforementionedtype and methods of erecting the same which provide devices which areeasily and quickly assembled.

Long trips which have been taken with babies have posed many problems,particularly when the child is in the transition stage from diapers tothe use of toilets. Thus, in order to train the child properly, it isessential that the child be placed on a toilet immediately when the needarises or at specified times in accordance with their schedule. However,a toilet may not be available readily, especially during long car tripsand the like. While some types of portable toilets have been proposed inthe past as possible solutions to the problem by making a toiletcontinuously available, they have many drawbacks associated with theiruse.

For example, one primary drawback associated with these prior deviceswas due to the fact that no means was provided immediately for disposingof the waste materials. As a result, the user was required to wait untila conventional toilet was available before the portable toilet could becleaned. Another drawback (which is related to the preceding) was thefact that once used, such prior art devices could not be used againuntil it was cleaned. Hence, their use was curtailed severely.

Accordingly, an object of the present invention is to provide animproved portable toilet.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a portable toilethaving a removable and disposable receptacle for receiving wasteproducts which may be replaced quickly and easily so that the deviceimmediately may be reused without the necessity for cleaning the same.

Most so-called portable toilets are quite heavy and bulky and occupy arelatively large volume thereby rendering said devices unsuitable forcampers. That is, they cannot easily be packed and carried in a knapsackor the like, wherein space and weight considerations are uppermost.

Thus, another object of the invention is to provide a portable toiletwhich is light in weight and which occupies a relatively small space,thereby making the same ideally suited for camping or hiking trips andthe like.

Additionally, many campers or hostlers or the like require a sink orwash basin which they can carry about easily on their respective tripsor outings. However, those 3,579,655 Patented May 25, 1971 sinks whichare presently available suffer from the same drawbacks as does thetoilets noted above. In other words, they are either heavy, bulky orboth.

Hence, a further object of the invention is the provision of alightweight sink which may be carried in a disassembled state, therebyoccupying a relatively small volume, and which may be assembled easilyand quickly.

Another object and feature of the present invention resides in the noveldetails of construction which provide structures of the types disclosedwhich are reliable in operation and relatively inexpensive tomanufacture.

Accordingly, a portable structure constructed according to the presentinvention includes a top panel having a through bore. Side panel meansis provided for supporting said top panel thereon. A substantiallywaterproof receiving device is positioned about said aperture andextends therebelow and is adapted to receive liquid or solid materialsor the like.

A further object of the present invention is the provision of a methodfor quickly assembling or disassembling a portable structure of the typedescribed.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become more apparentfrom a consideration of the following detailed description when taken inconjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a portable toilet constructed inaccordance with the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a front elevational view of a side panel of the device shownin FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a top plan view of the top panel of the device illustrated inFIG. 1;

FIG. 4 is a front elevational view, with parts broken away and to areduced scale, of a modified embodiment of a bag adapted to be utilizedin the toilet of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a further modified embodiment of a bag similar to the bag ofFIG. 4;

FIG. 6 is a front elevational view of another modified embodiment of abag construction for use in the present toilet;

FIG. 7 is a front elevational view of a modified embodiment of a toiletconstructed according to the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a fragmentary view, partially in section, of a lockingarrangement between the side panels and the top panel of the toiletshown in FIG. 1; and

FIG. 9 is a perspective view of a portable sink constructed inaccordance with the present invention.

A portable toilet constructed according to the present invention isshown in FIG. 1 and is designated generally by the reference numeral 10.The toilet 10 includes a plurality of side panels 12 which arereleasably connected together along their adjacent side edges to form ahousing 13 having an open bottom and top. More specifically, in thedevice shown in FIG. 1, three identical side panels 12 are utilized.However, it is to be noted that this is for illustrative purposes onlyand is not to be interpreted as being a limitation of the presentinvention. That is, more or less than three such panels may be used.

Since the side panels 12 are identical in construction, only one panelwill be described in detail. Accordingly, a side panel 12 is shown inFIG. 2 and includes a bottom edge 14 and a top edge 16. The top edge 16is provided with an approximately centrally located recess 18 thereby todefine upstanding spaced tabs 20 and 22 at the respective ends. The sideedges of the panel 12 are provided with oppositely directed shoulders 24and 26. That is, the shoulder 24 is spaced from the bottom edge 14 by adistance which is substantially equal to the distance that the shoulder26 is spaced from the top edge 16. The shoulder 24 terminates at anupwardly extending open-ended elongated slot 28. Similarly, the shoulder26 terminates at a downwardly extending open-ended elongated slot 30.

Releasably received on the enclosure 13 and extending beyond theboundaries thereof (FIG. 1), is a top panel designated generally by thereference numeral 32. The top panel 32 is shown in detail in FIG. 3 andis of substantially triangular configuration having a rear edge 34, andconverging side edges 36 and 38. The edges are connected by roundedcorners. It is to be noted that the shape of the top panel 32 issubstantially a function of the shape of the enclosure 13. That is, ifthe enclosure 13 was comprised of four panels and was substantiallysquare, the top panel may be correspondingly square. Alternatively, ifthe enclosure 13 were comprised of a single panel and were circular, thetop panel may be circular also.

Provided in the top panel 32 is a through aperture 40. The aperture 40includes a rear portion 42 of relatively large radius of curvature, afront portion 44 of relatively small radius of curvature, andinterconnecting substantially straight side edges 46 and 48. Positionedadjacent the rear edge 34 of the top panel 32 and parallel thereto arespaced elongated slots 50 and 52. Similarly, positioned adjacent theside edge 36 and parallel thereto are spaced elongated slots 50 and 52.Likewise, a pair of spaced elongated slots 50 and 52 are providedadjacent the side edge 38 which are parallel thereto.

Received between the top panel 32 and the side panels 12 is asubstantially waterproof bag 54. In practice, the bag 54 is fabricatedfrom a liquid impervious material such as a flexible plastic or thelike. The bag 54 is shown in FIG. 5 and is provided with an open top 56and a closed bottom '58.

The side panels 12 and the top panel 32 may be fabricated from a paperlaminate, a plastic or fiberboard or the like. However, these examplesare only illustrative of the materials from which the panels may bemade, it being understod that it is desirable to have panels which aresubstantially impervious to liquids and have a relatively high strength.

In operation, the portable toilet usually is in its disassembled orknocked-down state. That is, when the toilet is not in use the side andtop panels are unconnected and may be superposed on each other topresent a relatively small package which easily may be packed in aknapsack or the like as it occupies a relatively small volume. Moreover,the panels may be inserted into the bag 54 to maintain the completepackage together. Additionally, since the panels are made from a paperlaminate or fiberboard or the like, the device is lightweight and may beeasily carried.

When it is desired to use the toilet 10, the side panels 12 areconnected together along their side edges to form the enclosure 13. Moreparticularly, the portion of one panel 12 above the slot 28 is receivedin the slot 30 of another one of the panels 12 while that portion of theother panel 12 below the slot 30 is received in the slot 28 of the onepanel 12. In this manner, the three panels 12 of the illustrativeembodiment are so connected and are placed on their respective edges 14which lie in the same plane when connected together to form a triangularbase or support for the top panel =32. The bag 54 then is inserted intothe enclosure 13 and the top portion thereof is placed over therespective top edges 16 of the side panels 12, as shown in FIG. 1. Thetop panel 32 is positioned over the enclosure 13 so that each tab 20 ofthe respective side panels is aligned with a different one of the slots50 in the top panel 32. Similarly, each one of the tabs 22 is alignedwith a different one of the slots 52 in the top panel, it beingunderstood that the slots 50 and 52 are sized and positioned to receivethe respective tabs when the top panel is so oriented. The bag 54 isrelatively thin-walled and will not interfere with the reception of therespective tabs into the associated slots albeit the top portion of thebag covers the tabs. The top panel 32 then is moved downwardly until thetabs 20 are received in the respective slots 50 and the tabs 22 arereceived in the respective slots 52 and the under surface of the toppanel abuts the lower wall of the recess 18. It is to be noted that theheight of the tabs 20, 22 are sized so that the top of the tabs areflush with or below the top surface of the top panel, when the top panelis seated on the side panels. Moreover, as shown in FIG. 1, the toppanel 32 is sized to overhang the housing 13.

Accordingly, when the toilet 10 is assembled in the manner noted aboveand as shown in FIG. 1, it is ready for use. After use, the top panel 32is removed and the top overhanging portion of the bag 54 is grasped sothat the bag 54 may be closed and removed. Thereafter, a new bag 54 maybe placed in the enclosure 13 and the top panel 32 placed thereon, inthe manner noted above, so that the toilet 10 immediately is ready forreuse. The used bag 54 which may contain waste materials or the like,may be disposed of in any conventional manner.

Since the side and top panels of the toilet 10 are releasably connectedtogether, in the manner noted above, the toilet easily may bedisassembled simply by reversing the above procedure.

Accordingly, a portable toilet has been described which is simple toassemble, light in weight, and compact, and which may be available forreuse practically immediately. Moreover, since only the disposable bag54 is contaminated with waste materials, there is never any need toclean the toilet.

In many applications, it may be diflicult to dispose of the bag 54particularly when the bag is fabricated from a plastic since manyconventional toilets become stuffed when an attempt is made to flushsuch plastic materials. Accordingly, the bag designated generally by thereference numeral 60 in FIG. 4 eliminates such problems. Thus, the bag60 includes a waterproof or liquid impervious outer liner 62 which maybe fabricated from a relatively inexpensive plastic or the like.Removably received within the outer liner 62 is an inner liner 64 whichis fabricated from an absorbent paper or the like. In practice, theliner 64 is adapted to break into relatively small pieces when subjectedto the water pressure of a conventional toilet to facilitate flushing ofthe same.

In operation, the bag 60 is used in a manner similar to the bag 54.However, when it is desired to dispose of the bag 60 in a conventionaltoilet, the inner liner (which retains the waste materials) is removedand flushed down the toilet. The plastic outer liner then may bedisposed of in any manner since it is substantially clean of wastematerials.

FIG. 6 illustrates a further modified embodiment of a bag constructionwhich may be used in place of the bag 54 shown in FIGS. 1 and 5. Thus,the bag 66 shown in FIG. 6 includes a hem 68 adjacent the mouth of thebag. Within the hem 68 is an elasticized thread 70. The normalunstretched length of the thread 70 is smaller than the periphery of thetop panel 32 but it is adapted to be stretched to a greater length thanthe periphery of the top panel. The bag 66 is adapted to cover theentire top surface of the panel 32.

In use, the top panel is placed directly over the side panels 12 in themanner noted above with the respective tabs received in the associatedslots. The bag 66 then is placed through the aperture 40 so that itextends downwardly from the top panel within the enclosure 13. The mouthof the bag is stretched outwardly and is placed over the edge of the toppanel. The mouth of the bag 66 then is released so that the thread 70assumes its unstretched length, thereby firmly grasping the underside ofthe top panel 32. Hence, the bag 66 will be maintained in place with thetop of the bag completely covering the top surface of the top panel.

FIG. 7 illustrates a toilet 71 which includes side panels designatedgenerally by the reference numeral 72 and a bag 74. The side panels 72mount a top panel 32 in the same manner as does the side panels 12.However, the side panels 72 differ from the side panels 12 by the mannerin which the panels are releasably connected together along theiradjacent or juxtaposed edges. More specifically, each side panel 72includes downwardly extending spaced locking lugs 76 and 78 along oneside edge. As shown in FIG. 7, the lug 78 is positioned adjacent thebottom edge of the panel and the locking lug 76 is positioned adjacentthe top edge of the panel. The opposite side edge of each one of thepanels 72 is provided with upwardly directed locking lugs 80 and 82. Thelugs 80 and 82 are positioned to engage the locking lugs 76 and 78,respectively, to releasably connect adjacent panels together bypositioning the lugs 80 and 82 below the respective lugs 76 and 78 andmoving the panels toward each other. When the panels are connectedtogether, they form a housing similar to the housing 13. As noted above,the side panels 72 are provided with a top edge which is similar to thetop edge of the panels 12 so that the side panels 72 cooperate with thetop panel 32 in the same manner as do the panels 12. Additionally, thelocking lugs are positioned so that the bottom edge of each side panellies in the same plane when the side panels are connected together,thereby to provide a stable device.

The 'bag 74 is similar in construction to the bag 66 and includes anelasticized thread (not shown) so that the bag may be placed over theentire top surface of the top panel 32 of the toilet 71 with the outerportion of the bag engaging the underside of the panel. Connected to theouter surface of the bag 74 in spaced relation to the mouth thereof, isa substantially rigid elongated member 84. The member 84 has a length ofapproximately two to three inches. It is to be noted that the bag 74 maybe made in layers, in which case the member 84 would be received betweenadjacent layers of the bag.

The panels comprising the toilet 71 are assembled in a manner similar tothe assembly of the toilet as noted above. The bag 74 is placed on thetop panel in a manner similar to the placement of the bag 66. However,the bottom end of the member 84 is positioned in engagement with the topsurface of the top panel 32 adjacent the front portion 44 of theaperture 40 so that the portion of the bag 74 in the area surroundingthe member 84 similarly extends upwardly from the top surface of thepanel 32. Hence, the bag 74 has an upwardly extending portion whichprovides a protective shield for those applications wherein the portabletoilet is utilized for male children. The bag 74 may be replaced or thedevice disassembled by reversing the above procedures.

In many applications, it may be desirable to prevent accidentalseparation of the top panel from the side panels 12 or the side panels72. Thus, FIG. 8 illustrates a construction which prevents suchaccidental separation. More specifically, a tab such as tab 86 isprovided in place of the tabs 20 and 22. The tab 86 is in the shape ofan inverted trapezoid so that the upper edge 88 of the tab is longerthan the bottom edge 90 of the tab. The slot 92 in the top panel 32 issized to have a length which is intermediate the length of the top edge88 and the bottom edge 90 of the tab 86.

In operation, the top panel 32 is placed on a side panel with the tabs86 aligned with the slots 92. The top panel then is forced downwardly sothat the tabs 86 are forced into the respective slots. Since the sidepanels are fabricated from a paper laminate or the like, the ends of thetabs 86 will be compressed as they are received in the slots. When thetop panel 32 seats on the upper edge of the side panels, the top portionof the tabs 86 will abut the end walls of the slots in tight frictionalengagement therewith. To disassemble the toilet, the user will have toexert a substantial upwardly directed force to remove the top panel fromthe side panels. Hence, the top panel cannot accidentally be removedfrom the side panels.

As noted hereinabove, it is desirable to provide a portable sink or washbasin which is light in weight and may be carried easily. Such a deviceis shown in assembled condition in FIG. 9 and is designated generally bythe reference numeral 94. The sink 94 includes side panels 172 which aresimilar in construction to the side panels 12 with the exception thatthey are of smaller height. Each side panel 172 includes locking meanswhich cooperate in the same manner as the locking means associated withthe side panels 12 to releasably connect together the side panels.Additionally, a top panel 132 is provided which is connected to the sidepanels 172 in the same manner that the panel 32 may be connected to theside panels 12 or 72. Provided in the top panel 132 is a substantiallycircular aperture 140.

Hingedly connected to the top panel 132 by hinges 96 and 98 is a lid 100which is adapted to be moved between an aperture-open and anaperture-closed position. The hinges 96 and 98 are conventional inconstruction and are of the type which limit the movement of the lid 100when in the aperture-open position to a position wherein the lid isupstanding, as shown in FIG. 9. The inner surface of the lid is coatedwith a reflective material 102 such as aluminum or the like to provide amirrored surface. The sink or wash basin 94 is adapted to be supportedby a surface 104.

A substantially waterproof bag 106 is provided which is adapted to bereceived through the aperture 140. The bag 106 extends downwardly fromthe top panel 132 and the bottom of the bag rests on the supportingsurface 104. Additionally, the bag is provided with a skirt portion 108which overlies the top surface of the top panel and extends down thesides of the sink, and outwardly over the supporting surface 104 toprovide a protective cover for these surfaces to protect them from theliquid in the bag.

In operation, the sink or basin 94 is assembled in the manner notedabove with respect to the toilet 71 and the bag 106 is filled with aliquid such as Water. Since the bottom of the bag rests on thesupporting surface 104, the bag receives additional support thereby.After the sink has been used, the bag may be emptied or disposed of andreplaced with another bag. Alternatively, the cover or lid 100 may bemoved to the aperture-closed position while a liquid such as waterremains in the bag. When it is desired to repack or dissassemble thesink 94, the bag 106 is removed, the top panel 132 is removed and theside panels 172 disconnected. The panels then may be superposed on eachother to provide a relatively compact package.

Accordingly, a sink or wash basin has been disclosed which is easy toassemble and occupies a minimum of space.

While preferred embodiments and methods of the invention have been shownand described herein it will be obvious that many omissions, changes andadditions may be made in such embodiments and methods without departingfrom the spirit and scope of the present invention.

What is claimed is:

1. A lightweight portable structure including a plurality of identicalseparate and individual fiat planar side panels, interconnecting meanson each of said plurality of side panels and in the plane of said sidepanels for releasably connecting together juxtaposed panels along theiradjacent edges, a separate and individual flat planar top panel receivedon said plurality of side panels, an aperture in sid top panel,connecting means between at least preselected ones of said plurality ofside panels and said top panel for connecting said top panel with saidpreselected side panels, said connecting means comprising upstandingtabs on said preselected panels having a top edge larger than the bottomedge thereof, and complementary slots in said top panel positioned toreceive said tabs, said slots being sized slightly smaller than said topedges and slightly larger than said bottom so that said top panel isfirmly fixed in place, the height of said tabs being substantially equalto the width of said top panel whereby the top surface of said tabs issubstantially coplanar with the top surface of said top panel, and asubstantially waterproof bag surrounding said aperture and extendingdownwardly therefrom.

2. A portable structure as in claim 1, in which said top panel includesa horizontally extending lip portion which extends outwardly from saidside panels, said bag including a portion which extends upwardly throughsaid aperture and over said top panel, and elastic means adjacent themouth of said bag for normally constricting said mouth, whereby themouth of said bag is received over the edge of said top panel and saidelastic means being sized to constrict said mouth so that said mouth issmaller than said top panel whereby said bag engages the underside ofsaid lip portion of said top panel to maintain said bag in place.

3. A lightweight portable structure including a plurality of separateand individual fiat planar side panels, interconnecting means on each ofsaid plurality of side panels for releasably connecting togetherjuxtaposed panels along their adjacent edges, a separate and individualflat planar top panel received on said plurality of side panels, anaperture in said top panel, and a substantially waterproof bagsurrounding said aperture and extending downwardly therefrom, said bagincluding a portion which extends upwardly through said aperture andover said top panel, and elastic means adjacent the mouth of said bagfor normally constricting said mouth, whereby the mouth of said bag isreceived over the edge of said top panel and said elastic means beingsized to constrict said mouth so that said mouth is smaller than saidtop panel whereby said bag engages the underside of said top panel tomaintain said bag in place, and a substantially rigid member in said baghaving an end positioned to engage'said top panel, whereby the portionof said bag adjacent said member extends upwardly from said top panel.

4. A portable structure as in claim 1, including a lid hingedlyconnected to said top panel and movable between an aperture-open and anaperture-closed position, and a reflecting surface connected to saidlid.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,061,297 5/1913 Johnson.

1,938,452 12/ 1933 Griesmeyer 220 2,198,658 4/1940 Deline 229-232,662,229 12/ 1953 Wenkstern 4135 2,810,474 10/ 1957 Essick 206-442,912,702 11/ 1959 Mackenzie 4-135 3,142,847 8/ 1964 Kurrels 4 1423,159,848 12/1964 Arndt, Jr. 4135 3,405,409 10/ 1968 Bennett 41422,928,259 3/1960 Mundie 248--99X 3,052,371 9/ 1962 Van Bemmelen 22063X3,101,839 8/1963 Holman 22063X LAVERNE D. GEIGER, Primary Examiner R. J.SHER, Assistant Examiner US. Cl. X.R. 4135, 142

